View Full Version : post trail sciatica
sloopjonboswell
12-18-2008, 13:53
so the doctor asks me, 'when did this happen?' and i really dont remember any specific time i hurt my back. maybe running down bear mtn at full speed. just wondering if any other hikers have experienced this terrible affliction after an extended hike.. thanks.
-pc
My sciatica actually improved while hiking.
You might want to consult a sports chiropractor--have your leg lengths compared, etc., to see if your gait is uneven and is setting you up for trouble.
Another approach is to study yoga with a master teacher who can help you improve your body mechanics.
PS--My condolences. Sciatica SUCKS!
I was diagnosed with sciatica while on the trail and told to take 10 days off. I did and the pain stopped, never to return. It's been 15 years.
I was puzzled by the diagnosis because the emergency room doctors I consulted before getting off the trail, all insisted it had begun in my lower back and then moved down into my legs. I never had lower back pain. The pain, however, was pure agony. I couldn't scratch a mosquito bite on my leg without crumbling to the ground with pain. I could still walk, but I couldn't sit or lay down.
Later, at an ATC biennial conference workshop, I discussed my symptoms with the late Del Doc, a physician who had hiked the trail several times. He thought it may have been an entirely different nerve system than the sciatica nerve, and speculated it was caused by a too tight waist belt on my backpack.
I tend to agree with Del Doc, given the absence of back pain, before or since, the episode.
Just food for thought.
Weary
Blissful
12-18-2008, 14:58
My sciatica actually improved while hiking.
Same here - mine came from lifitng as a nurse and uh...givng birth. :) Much better on the trail.
Mine now flairs up because I am not backpacking. I cannot lift anything over 25 lbs.
I use advil, aspercreme works good for me, pillows under my knees while sleeping.
No twisting and turning and watch the heavy lifting.
so the doctor asks me, 'when did this happen?' and i really dont remember any specific time i hurt my back. maybe running down bear mtn at full speed. just wondering if any other hikers have experienced this terrible affliction after an extended hike.. thanks.
-pc
Have you started carrying a thick wallet post hike? As in trucker's sciatica?
take-a-knee
12-18-2008, 19:01
Same here - mine came from lifitng as a nurse and uh...givng birth. :) Much better on the trail.
Mine now flairs up because I am not backpacking. I cannot lift anything over 25 lbs.
I use advil, aspercreme works good for me, pillows under my knees while sleeping.
No twisting and turning and watch the heavy lifting.
Deadlifts will work better than dope.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjBI9qxibTc
take-a-knee
12-18-2008, 19:03
My sciatica actually improved while hiking.
You might want to consult a sports chiropractor--have your leg lengths compared, etc., to see if your gait is uneven and is setting you up for trouble.
Another approach is to study yoga with a master teacher who can help you improve your body mechanics.
PS--My condolences. Sciatica SUCKS!
Take this woman's advice folks.
garlic08
12-18-2008, 19:16
Like everyone else above, I only get sciatica when I'm not hiking, hiking makes it better again. My partner's pre-hiking sciatica has been cured completely by long hikes, it seems. And at the start of a long hike, mine's definitely aggravated by a tight waist belt, same as Weary. Good luck. Definitely see a chiro, if you can.
sloopjonboswell
12-18-2008, 20:38
thanks everybody, i was never bothered by it while i was hiking either, but i never had it before. great suggestions as always.
4eyedbuzzard
12-18-2008, 20:56
...I was puzzled by the diagnosis because the emergency room doctors I consulted before getting off the trail, all insisted it had begun in my lower back and then moved down into my legs. I never had lower back pain. The pain, however, was pure agony. I couldn't scratch a mosquito bite on my leg without crumbling to the ground with pain. I could still walk, but I couldn't sit or lay down...
What you are describing could well be compression of a nerve root where it enters the spinal column between the vertebrae. Spine injuries often DON'T cause local back pain. If a disc compresses the nerve root you will have pain that radiates down your leg, and it can be excruciating. Where on the leg depends upon the level of the disk injury (which disk is injured). I've had three disc injuries and my back itself never hurt. It's always been radicular (referred) pain and even partial paralysis in my leg.
And like you said, it can literally crumble you to the ground and make a grown man cry.
sloopjonboswell
12-18-2008, 23:23
wow can it hurt, i find the worst pain radiating to the middle of my calf. sometimes the whole leg is numb. only on the right leg. its not the walking or the working that hurts so much, its sitting while im reading, or in class, or checking the internet. geez it is hard to find someone that understands how debilitating it is. at 27 my ex just called me a ####y and once said that she believed i was making the whole thing up... i never actually cried in front of her but it is the kind of thing to make a grown man drop to the ground in tears.
as a college student with no insurance, i got myself to the emergencey room when it got the worst. i really appreciate folks reminding me that it usually passess. (ive had this bout for almost 2 months) do i have a leg longer than the other? i dunno, orthopedic doctors are out of my reach, but i think chiro, followed by yoga, with a couple miles of walking a week should help?
leave it to my favorite minority of peoples to give me the best encouragement and advice. thanks everybody...
keep em coming
sloopjonboswell
12-18-2008, 23:25
oh yeah, i love ya'll
mkmangold
12-19-2008, 00:18
What you are describing could well be compression of a nerve root where it enters the spinal column between the vertebrae. Spine injuries often DON'T cause local back pain. If a disc compresses the nerve root you will have pain that radiates down your leg, and it can be excruciating. Where on the leg depends upon the level of the disk injury (which disk is injured). I've had three disc injuries and my back itself never hurt. It's always been radicular (referred) pain and even partial paralysis in my leg.
And like you said, it can literally crumble you to the ground and make a grown man cry.
That's true but reading weary's post makes me think it may be something else. Why go down in pain just scratching a mosquito bite? Did you notice a rash of ANY type on your leg? What was the distribution of your pain: in the butt cheek only? down the back of the leg? past the knee and if so, front or back? I'm thinking this may have been shingles. Did you have chicken pox as a kid?
For true sciatica, I find that a shot of ketorolac (Toradol) directly ON TOP of the sciatica nerves not only helps but may actually get rid of the sciatica. If that doesn't work, it may well be something else including a nerve root compression.
4eyedbuzzard
12-19-2008, 00:32
wow can it hurt, i find the worst pain radiating to the middle of my calf. sometimes the whole leg is numb. only on the right leg. its not the walking or the working that hurts so much, its sitting while im reading, or in class, or checking the internet. geez it is hard to find someone that understands how debilitating it is. at 27 my ex just called me a ####y and once said that she believed i was making the whole thing up... i never actually cried in front of her but it is the kind of thing to make a grown man drop to the ground in tears.
as a college student with no insurance, i got myself to the emergencey room when it got the worst. i really appreciate folks reminding me that it usually passess. (ive had this bout for almost 2 months) do i have a leg longer than the other? i dunno, orthopedic doctors are out of my reach, but i think chiro, followed by yoga, with a couple miles of walking a week should help?
leave it to my favorite minority of peoples to give me the best encouragement and advice. thanks everybody...
keep em coming
This has lasted 2 months? Whether you have insurance or not, you need to see an Orthopaedic MD ASAP and get lumbar x-rays and likely an MRI so that a proper diagnosis can be made. Failure to do so could lead to permanent nerve damage, muscle wasting, etc. Even if you don't require surgery, you'll need the diagnosis and imaging to determine the best course of physical therapy to help the healing process. Trust me on this, don't wait. I'm a veteran of three disk injuries, and I while I ain't no doctor, your pain sounds all the word like a HNP, which is medical lingo called herniated nucleus pulposus, aka ruptured/prolapsed/slipped disk. Don't bother with Chiro, yoga or anything else until you've seen the MD and had the diagnostic imaging done.
This book explains a lot about back injuries:
http://www.amazon.com/Treat-Your-Back-Robin-McKenzie/dp/0959774661
It was recommended to me by a doctor who is also a yoga teacher.
Her book is:
http://www.amazon.com/Back-Care-Basics-Doctors-Program/dp/0962713821/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229677440&sr=1-1
That said, I think the first thing you'll find upon reading either of these books is that pain of the severity you've been having indicates the need for medical help.
My heart goes out to you. When that sort of pain is going on, there's not much else you can think about. It'll drop you to the ground in an instant.
Alligator
12-19-2008, 11:31
wow can it hurt, i find the worst pain radiating to the middle of my calf. sometimes the whole leg is numb. only on the right leg. its not the walking or the working that hurts so much, its sitting while im reading, or in class, or checking the internet. geez it is hard to find someone that understands how debilitating it is. at 27 my ex just called me a ####y and once said that she believed i was making the whole thing up... i never actually cried in front of her but it is the kind of thing to make a grown man drop to the ground in tears.
as a college student with no insurance, i got myself to the emergencey room when it got the worst. i really appreciate folks reminding me that it usually passess. (ive had this bout for almost 2 months) do i have a leg longer than the other? i dunno, orthopedic doctors are out of my reach, but i think chiro, followed by yoga, with a couple miles of walking a week should help?
leave it to my favorite minority of peoples to give me the best encouragement and advice. thanks everybody...
keep em comingOh it hurts, it can be quite unbearable. It can take quite a few months to calm down, my sciatica was like yours, right in the middle of the calf (left leg though). The first time I had it, it become controllable with Celebrex and eventually subsided. You might try Mobic (melexicoxib?) as an alternative though, it has less risk. The second time I had it I elected surgery. I don't recommend that though except as a last resort, there are other options to try.
Walking will help and gentle yoga, but don't aggravate it with the yoga. Stay away from hard classes initially. When I had chiropractic care, the chiropractor ended my sessions when he found out I had a herniated disc. I do not recommend it.
Sitting is bad. Avoid sitting.
Backpacking has generally never aggravated my back problems. I do have a new pack though that puts pressure on my surgery area so I am going to send it back.
That's true but reading weary's post makes me think it may be something else. Why go down in pain just scratching a mosquito bite? Did you notice a rash of ANY type on your leg? What was the distribution of your pain: in the butt cheek only? down the back of the leg? past the knee and if so, front or back? I'm thinking this may have been shingles. Did you have chicken pox as a kid?
For true sciatica, I find that a shot of ketorolac (Toradol) directly ON TOP of the sciatica nerves not only helps but may actually get rid of the sciatica. If that doesn't work, it may well be something else including a nerve root compression.
The pain was centered on the upper leg and thigh, but the entire leg was somewhat impacted. There was no sign of rash or shingles. But just touching the skin could trigger the pain. One emergency room doctor kept probing my leg, asking again and again, "Does it hurt here? as her hand moved around." My answers were all no. Then all of a sudden I collapsed on the floor in absolute agony.
Whatever it was, it cleared up after a few days of rest -- and has never returned. Over the years, bone density tests have shown a partially compressed disc in my lower spine, but it has caused no overt symptoms, except possibly that one time.
Weary
neighbor dave
12-19-2008, 16:19
:-? i fudged my back up a few years ago, no insurance, toughed it out and bought one of these;
http://www.teeterhangups.com/
i'm as good as new. since i've hikes thousands of miles. good luck:sun
RobertPhillips
09-05-2011, 00:43
It is really important for us be careful always to avoid this kind of incidents.
sciatica exercises (http://www.sciaticatreatment.net/sciatica-exercises/)
Chaco Taco
09-05-2011, 00:48
I didnt bother to read too far down but got the info from the OP. Sciatica. Honestly, go get a massage, specifically deep tissue. I am a licensed therapist and have been working with multiple athletes and such deal with their sciatica. There are releases that can be performed on the piriformis (which commonly pushes on the sciatic nerve) to help alleviate sciatica. I have had some great results with my clients.
Chaco Taco
09-05-2011, 00:49
and just a bit of advice, dont cover it up with drugs. Your body is trying to tell you something, listen to it.
Chaco Taco
09-05-2011, 00:51
Why wouldnt you bother with a chiro? MD's will only prescribe something that will just mask the real issue.
4thandgoal
09-05-2011, 01:33
I am under chiro care now after almost getting surgery for my back and leg pain. I had never felt such pain in my life. No sleep, crying, begging for death even. The pain is terrible. I am so glad i did not have the surgery. I explained to the chiro that i intend on a thru hike of the AT and he never hinted that i might not be able to do it. 1 month in with the chiro and the pain has went from a 10 to a 4 most of the time. Pain killers are a waste because the nerves that are binded by my spine overide any drug. The one pill that did help was not a narcotic, Neurontin is a nerve relaxer. It helped get me by till i started having my spine adjusted. I feel i am on my way to a recovery and my thru hike is going to happen. It has derailed me since feb. though. If you know someone with this problem, they are not overstating the pain. It is also true that walking and moving help ease the pain. Sitting, laying and just slowing down in the evening seems to flare it up. Of course every case is different but that is my experience. Glad this thread was started. Was very curious about others with the same issue.
Check out periformis syndrome. I learned about this on WhiteBlaze. Have been dealing with daily back pain for 35 years in varying degrees. This most recent bout of sciatica pain came from playing ONE ROUND of golf, I was nearly pain free then...............getting ready to hike in the White Mountains later this week, we will see how I fare.
The periformis stretches are good to do anyway, especially BEFORE I get up from sitting!
Check it out, helped me a LOT!
jerseydave
09-05-2011, 07:00
Several years ago I was crippled by the pain of sciatica for many weeks. It was agony.
After a while, because of rest, the pain subsided enough for me to begin therapy.
Ultimately I believe proper stretching exercises, core strengthening, and weight loss combined to relieve the pain.
I am not saying this will be your remedy, just that it worked for me.
Good luck,
jd
Chaco Taco
09-05-2011, 10:25
Check out periformis syndrome. I learned about this on WhiteBlaze. Have been dealing with daily back pain for 35 years in varying degrees. This most recent bout of sciatica pain came from playing ONE ROUND of golf, I was nearly pain free then...............getting ready to hike in the White Mountains later this week, we will see how I fare.
The periformis stretches are good to do anyway, especially BEFORE I get up from sitting!
Check it out, helped me a LOT!
While I agree with you about the stretches, alot of sciatic pain can result from hyperactive muscle fibers in the glutes or the piriformis, aka trigger points. I deal with it on a daily basis. There is alot of progress being made with massage therapy especially when helping alleviate pain from Sciatica. Just sayin. Your best bet would be to get a massage the day before your hike then, stretch, stretch, stretch.
Chaco Taco
09-05-2011, 10:33
I am under chiro care now after almost getting surgery for my back and leg pain. I had never felt such pain in my life. No sleep, crying, begging for death even. The pain is terrible. I am so glad i did not have the surgery. I explained to the chiro that i intend on a thru hike of the AT and he never hinted that i might not be able to do it. 1 month in with the chiro and the pain has went from a 10 to a 4 most of the time. Pain killers are a waste because the nerves that are binded by my spine overide any drug. The one pill that did help was not a narcotic, Neurontin is a nerve relaxer. It helped get me by till i started having my spine adjusted. I feel i am on my way to a recovery and my thru hike is going to happen. It has derailed me since feb. though. If you know someone with this problem, they are not overstating the pain. It is also true that walking and moving help ease the pain. Sitting, laying and just slowing down in the evening seems to flare it up. Of course every case is different but that is my experience. Glad this thread was started. Was very curious about others with the same issue.
Good job going to a chiro. People are hesitant on going to a chiro because they think they deal just with the spine. The nerves originate in the spine and if you are subluxated, you are going to have a host of issues with nerves and can lead to what you have issues with. Also, the body is made to move. Obviously, not moving will do nothing to help. Sometimes, "rest" is important for recovery, but just not moving will never heal anything in the body. Glad you are doing better. One thing you may wantto look at when sitting that willalso help with core strength is a zaifu. Its a meditation cushion but you can sit on it anytime. It helps to align the spine and strengthen the core and erector muscles and psoas muscles. Its uncomfortable at first because of a weak core but over time, it will help to strengthen it. Good luck
Deadlifts will work better than dope.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjBI9qxibTc
What are you doing giving people advice that takes years of work to follow!
Just eat oak leaves. Science shows that they pretty much do nothing. BUT THEY'RE THE HERBAL REMEDY TO BACK PROBLEMS.